EUROPEAN REGIONS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION NETWORK

Their core work

ERRIN is a Brussels-based network of European regional offices that bridges the gap between EU-level innovation policy and regional implementation. They specialize in connecting regional authorities, cities, and innovation ecosystems across Europe to co-design and test new approaches to societal challenges — from energy transition to digital health to sustainable mobility. Their core value lies in mobilizing regional actors into EU-funded initiatives, facilitating multi-stakeholder co-creation processes, and translating policy frameworks (like Responsible Research and Innovation) into practical regional actions. They are not a research performer but an orchestrator — they bring the regional dimension into EU projects that would otherwise remain top-down.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015–2018, ERRIN focused on science engagement (SPARKS with science cafés and museums), responsible research frameworks (FoTRRIS), and manufacturing support (FoFAM, AM-motion for additive manufacturing). From 2019 onward, they shifted decisively toward mission-oriented innovation — energy transition, climate-neutral cities, sustainable mobility, and digital health — with much larger project budgets and stronger emphasis on co-creation, quadruple-helix models, and systems change. The keyword shift from "science shops" and "frugal innovation" to "European Green Deal," "transition management," and "citizen engagement" marks a clear move from science communication toward driving actual societal transitions at the regional level.

ERRIN is moving toward large-scale, mission-driven projects (Green Deal, net-zero cities) where they bring regional networks and citizen engagement expertise to climate and energy challenges.

How they like to work

ERRIN participates exclusively as a partner — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is consistent with their role as a network facilitator rather than a research leader. With 226 unique partners across 36 countries, they operate as a highly connected hub, rarely repeating the same consortium. This makes them an excellent gateway partner: they bring access to regional authorities and innovation ecosystems across Europe, and their value lies in reach and convening power rather than deep technical execution.

With 226 unique consortium partners spread across 36 countries, ERRIN has one of the broadest collaboration networks among Brussels-based associations. Their partnerships span universities, city authorities, regional agencies, and innovation intermediaries across virtually all EU member states.

What sets them apart

ERRIN's distinctive value is their position as a pan-European network of regional offices based in Brussels — they sit at the intersection of EU policy and regional implementation like few other organizations. While many associations lobby or disseminate, ERRIN actively facilitates co-creation between regions, cities, citizens, and researchers. For consortium builders, they offer instant access to a distributed network of regional innovation actors — a capability that is hard to replicate and highly valued in mission-oriented calls requiring territorial engagement.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NetZeroCities
  Their largest project (EUR 544K) and most recent, focused on accelerating city transitions to net zero by 2030 — signals their strategic direction toward Green Deal implementation.
• Be.CULTOUR
  Second-largest funding (EUR 534K) and an unusual topic combination of cultural heritage with human-centred design and circular economy — shows versatility beyond their typical innovation policy work.
• MOSAIC
  Directly addresses mission-oriented Science with and for Society (SwafS) through quadruple-helix co-creation — represents the methodological core of what ERRIN brings to consortia.